this map tectonic plates the earth’s crust It is by no means a fixed and unchangeable thing. Now, a group of scientists has updated this map, introducing some innovations in the configuration of these plates, whose knowledge helps to more accurately understand volcanoes and earthquakes.
To develop the new map, “up-to-date information on the configuration of plate boundaries and how the continental crust is built,” said Derrick Hasterok, a professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Adelaide (Australia). the team that created the new models.
“The continents were put together a bit like a jigsaw puzzle, but ceach time the puzzle was completed, it was recut and rearranged to produce a new image.. Our work helps to understand the different components of the process so that geologists can piece together previous images.”
“We discovered that plate boundaries represent almost 16% of the earth’s crust and an even greater proportion of continents, 27%,” explained the professor.
The research team produced three new geological models in the lab: a plate model, a ‘province’ model, and an orogeny model. (mountain building process).
“There are 26 orogenies, a mountain formation process that left their mark on the current architecture of the Earth’s crust. Most, but not all, of these are related to the formation of supercontinents,” Hasterok said.
“Our work allows us to update the textbooks’ maps of tectonic plates and the formation of continents. from the classrooms. These plate models, drawn from topographic and global seismicity models, had not been updated since 2003.”
News and changes
New license plate model developed by your team contains several new microplatesIncluding the Macquarie microplate, located south of Tasmania, and the Capricorn microplate separating the Indian and Australian plates.
“To further enrich the model, added more precise information about crease zone boundaries: Previous models showed them as separate areas rather than large areas,” added Hasterok.
“The biggest changes in plate pattern occurred in western North America., has a Pacific plate boundary usually drawn as the San Andreas and Queen Charlotte faults. However, the newly drawn border is much wider than the previous narrow area on the maps, about 1,500 km.”
“The other big change is in Central Asia.. “As the plate moves towards Eurasia, the new model now includes all deformation zones north of India.”
published in the magazine Earth Science StudiesThe team’s work provides a more accurate representation of Earth’s architecture and has other important applications.
More accuracy for volcanoes and earthquakes
“Ours new plate tectonics model better explains the spatial distribution of 90% of earthquakes and 80% of volcanoes In the last two million years, current models have only reflected 65% of earthquakes,” said Dr. Hasterok.
“The plate model can be used to improve geohazard risk models, the orogeny model helps to understand geodynamic systems and better model Earth’s evolution, and the provincial model can be used to improve mineral exploration,” said the expert.
Reference work: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0012825222001532?via%3Dihub
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